Become a Fan

September 16, 2013

A look at how far we've come -- Anderson Cooper edition

In 2009, officials ordered that 127 'pit bulls" be killed after they were seized from a dog fighting bust in North Carolina. Ed Faron was given 8-10 months in prison for his 14 counts of felony dog fighting. His dogs, including many puppies, were sentenced to death. It was certainly a high cost for being a victim.

At the time, HSUS's John Goodwin supported the measure noting that the dogs had been bred for fighting and it was expensive and difficult to "retrain" them. This followed reports that just 30 months earlier, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle recommended that all of the dogs seized from Mike Vick's Bad Newz kennels be killed because they were "the most aggressive dogs they've ever seen." However, after proper evaluations, experts declared that 49 of the 51 dogs would be given an opportunity to live.

This was only 4 years ago -- that scores of dogs were killed, without evaluation, merely for being the victims of someone else's cruelty.

Skip ahead a few months, and Time Magazine featured 500 dogs rescued from a major dog fighting bust in Missouri. The dogs were given the opportunity to live, and the magazine featured the dogs not as vicious dogs that were eager participants, but as victims to human crimes and creatures to be empathized with.

And the trend continues.

A few weeks ago, the ASPCA, HSUS and area authorities broke up yet another dog-fighting ring in the South. The dogs are being held by the ASPCA and being given evaluations and behavioral rehabilitation opportunities. In other words, a chance.
CNN's Anderson Cooper covered the story - showing the dogs again as the victims of human cruelty that they are. Broken, but not unsalvagable. It's a really nice report, that you can view here:

It's amazing to see the transformation in how the cruelty victims are being covered and viewed. And it's great to see. Thanks to Cooper and the CNN team for their report.

So nice to read positive news. Education vs. ignorance works every time! Sometimes it just takes more effort from many strong advocates like Brent and many others, Fred Kray and the gang at Pit Bulletin Legal News, for one, who get the news out there and become a voice for all of us and especially for our dogs.

Here's what I just posted about this. Thanks Brent! Good news is ALWAYS welcomed on this front.

Here's a PERFECT example of how we should never give up hope and never stop working toward our goal even when it appears as if we'll never meet it. The tide is turning when it comes to pit bulls, how the authorities perceive them and will completely turn when the public perceives them differently. We will completely change life for all pit bulls, and hopefully for all dog breeds deemed inherently dangerous, but we've got to keep at it and take the successes when they come. Most of all we can't do a damned thing as a million individuals but only as ONE together for a common cause!

The only reason this organization is not calling for the immediate killing of the victims is because animal lovers have spoken up LOUDLY many, many times over the last few years. We have exposed what these so-called "humane" organizations are really doing to animals and we have said that it is not acceptable, both with our voices and our dollars/donations. They know that if they continue the mass slaughter of these victims, that more people will turn away and stop supporting them.

We animal lovers made this happen. Everyone who has ever spoken up for these victims should be proud.

I completely agree with Bett Sundermeyer that HSUS had no choice in the matter. In the age of the Internet, Pacelle and his cronies simply cannot get away with pushing for the deaths of the same dogs they are seeking donations "to care for." And HSUS can no longer lobby the courts to euthanize rescued dogs and puppies in order to prevent competing groups from saving them. After all, when animal advocates, rescuers, and 24/7 pet bloggers are the ones exposing and documenting these scandals, it's ridiculous and kind of crazy for Pacelle to blame it all on Humane Watch.

Unfortunately, HSUS is still making millions by claiming far too much credit for "rescuing" and "caring for" every victim of dog-fighting. Pacelle just stated in an interview that he personally worked with the FBI on the August bust. He told donors that HSUS was involved in the investigation "every step of the way." He needs to stop lying and stealing credit. Even if he were capable of changing (he's not), charities are exempt from the False Claims Act. HSUS loves that.

I'm very happy that victims of dog-fighting are no longer being used as scapegoats and vehicles to channel the hatred of people like John Goodwin. I just wish they weren't still being used to divert big bucks and attention from those organizations and individuals who need and deserve it.

Jim and John, I definitely agree that HSUS is unfortunately (or fortunately I guess, depending on how you look at it) not the leader in companion animal welfare. They are being drug into modern thinking by other people and groups who are the thought leaders. And I absolutely agree that we need to continue to make them responsible for their actions and hold them accountable. But I also don't believe in beating up on people for the sake of beating up on them....when they're right, they should get credit too.